Sound in Film

1. Sound in Film Film Analysis Part Three

2. Origins • No completely silent period • Organists, pianists or even full orchestras supplied live musicals accompaniment in theatres • Sound effects created on spot by specialists • October 1927: The Jazz Singer • Al Jolson says “You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!” • Not first, but most remembered

3. Origins (cont.) • Sound drew more ticket buyers • However, created new problems technically: • Cameras in sound proof boxes • Actors close to microphones • Emphasized speech more than movement • In theatres- can’t keep up reels with sound • Comical misalignments (male voice with female) • Movietone sound-on-film standard by 1931

4. Diegetic Sound • Sound in film divided into two major categories: diegetic and non-diegetic • Diegetic: sound that is within the world of the film • Dialogue • Sounds made by objects in the story • Example: Pulp Fiction (0:00-0:30) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNe3mp7ross&feature=related

5. Non-Diegetic Sound • Sound that is not present within the world of the film: • Score (aka background music) • Narrator’s commentary • Example: The Breakfast Club ( • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv1I4q6lOpo

6. Diegetic or Non-Diegetic? • Which is which? • Scene Number One (0:00-0:10): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNv5sPu0C1E • Scene Number Two (0:00-0:35): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHgvErjAbpo

7. Categories • Three main kinds of sound: • Dialogue • Sound Effects • Score • Popular Song

8. Sound Effects • All other sound (except most dialogue) is added later • Foley is performed while watching projected film and is sometimes called “walking Foley” b/c of footsteps required • The Foley techniques are named for Jack Foley, a sound editor at Universal Studios • Car engines, explosions, etc. are added by the sound effects editor(s)

9. Foley Artists • Foley artists at work • View film while creating sounds

10. Musical Score • Film score conveys mood, emotion and character in ways dialogue cannot • 1908 first score tailored for film • Leitmotif: short musical phrase representing and recurring with a character, situation or emotion (examples: Jaws, Star Wars) • Hints at unspoken conflicts or feelings • Film scores are usually composed after the film has finished shooting.

11. Songs • Use of existing popular songs, composer takes advantage of the audience’s prior associations with music. • Well-known songs can establish historical periods/time • Original songs, written specifically for a film, may highlight a particular moment or entire film’s theme • In musicals, songs function as a type of dialogue—closely interwoven with script • Songs for musicals are written and recorded before production begins.

12. Guessing Game • Scene One: Wayne’s World (0:18- 0:45)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STt9dqPsFTE&feature=related • A. Dialogue • B. Sound effect • C. Score • D. Use of Popular Song • Scene Two: The Social Network (0:20-1:34) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mehUC5l-lGM&list=PLB2DE32871180A772 • A. Dialogue • B. Sound effect • C. Score • D. Popular Song

13. Guessing Game (cont.) • Scene Three: Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQxrJBNQg4A • A. Dialogue • B. Sound effect • C. Score • D. Use of Popular Song • Scene Two: The Last of the Mohicans (2:00-3:00) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9SEFMIBwAs • A. Dialogue • B. Sound effect • C. Score • D. Popular Song